Best Big Muff clone?

Andrew311 · #1 02-09-2010, 01:58 PM

Let me start this this thread off by saying that I LOVE my Russian Big Muff. I think it sounds great and it's perfect for what I use it for. Unfortunately, there are some things that I don't love. It's huge. I usually don't subscribe to the "ZOMG PEDALBOARD REAL ESTATE" hype but this guy is just big enough to annoy me. It's really the depth that bothers me. It's too long to have something in front of it or behind it but it's two short to justify leaving it by itself. Which brings me to the obvious one, the input and output jacks are on the "wrong" side. Not the biggest deal but it really sucks when I have to make special length patch cables for it to be able to reach the other sides. There's no AC jack. Again, not the biggest deal but I haven't used batteries in years and having the 9v battery snap adapter hanging out of the bottom all of the time is a pain. A big problem for me is that 95% of the time that I go to click on the pedal, I accidentally nudge a knob. That knob is usually the volume knob. And that's bad.

So I want myself a clone and I would love to make it myself. The only kits that I know of are the BYOC kit and the GGG kit. I plan to steer clear or the BYOC because the have an added tone frequency switch and I want to stay as original as possible. The GGG kit has instruction for building to Russian specs so that's a plus. Or could I just buy a PCB some somewhere?

tl;dr - What's the most reputable Big Muff clone kit that can be built to Russian specs?

Any help is appreciated

Jehos · #2 02-09-2010, 02:01 PM

If you don't like the original, why would you want to stay as original as possible? Nobody says "Dang, that's an awfully accurate Big Muff on that bass!" They say "Dang, that's some sweet fuzz on that bass!"

Just my opinion...

grrrr!!!! · #3 02-09-2010, 02:07 PM

Stumbled across this site today.

http://uk-electronic.de/onlineshop/i...9056e3985da69d

rebelscum · #4 02-09-2010, 02:13 PM

I am actually debating 2 fuzz pedals and they are from the same manufacturer.

http://www.woundedpaw.com/ - Click on the Pedals link.

I dont have any pedals at all, so I may go with the Battering Ram.
If I had size constraints I'd probably go with the Attck Goat.

Your idea to build one is interesting. Subbed.

PS - The site I noted also has ready to solder PCBs and blank stomp boxes. They have a really cool look to them.

gnasher1993 · #5 02-09-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jehos

If you don't like the original, why would you want to stay as original as possible? Nobody says "Dang, that's an awfully accurate Big Muff on that bass!" They say "Dang, that's some sweet fuzz on that bass!"

Just my opinion...

If you read the OP, it's the size/layout he doesn't like, not the sound.

Maybe try the Stomp Under Foot clones if you decide to buy an already built one.

moose23 · #6 02-09-2010, 02:14 PM

I'd go with the GGG kit and build it to Green Russian specs, I promise you'll thank me after. Another option is to rehouse your pedal into a 1590BB case but the wiring on the black russian's is quite flimsy so it gets awkward.

I modded a friends one recently, I turned over the board so the input/output are on the usual sides then added a dc jack and lastly put in a 3pdt and made it true bypass. I didn't rehouse it though.

Andrew311 · #7 02-09-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jehos

If you don't like the original, why would you want to stay as original as possible? Nobody says "Dang, that's an awfully accurate Big Muff on that bass!" They say "Dang, that's some sweet fuzz on that bass!"

Just my opinion...

Either you misunderstood or I didn't state it as clearly as I thought I did. I love the sound of the original. What I don't love are the physically characteristics of the pedal itself. My goal is to recreate the sound as accurately as possible in a small and tight package.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grrrr!!!!

Stumbled across this site today.

http://uk-electronic.de/onlineshop/i...9056e3985da69d

I live in the US so I'm not sure how big of a production it would be to order from this site. Seems like a good deal though.

rakirksey · #8 02-09-2010, 02:33 PM

Instead of ordering a clone, you could always move the circuit board it into a new smaller box.

mikeldtl · #9 02-09-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moose23

I'd go with the GGG kit and build it to Green Russian specs, I promise you'll thank me after. Another option is to rehouse your pedal into a 1590BB case but the wiring on the black russian's is quite flimsy so it gets awkward.

I modded a friends one recently, I turned over the board so the input/output are on the usual sides then added a dc jack and lastly put in a 3pdt and made it true bypass. I didn't rehouse it though.

Agreed 100%. The "best" sounding Muff I have heard is the GGG clone I built to Russian specs a few years ago. Admittedly, the "real" green russians were all over the place as far as tolerances and ultimately sound goes. But my little clone sounds so damn sweet. I used metal film resistors, film caps, 2N5133 transistors with a gain of around 300 hfe, and socketed the tone section. Settled on the "GGG tuned" tone stack as it had the least mid scoop. Anyways.... its killer. Totally **** all over the Bass Big Muff I played yesterday....

MAMMOTHvolume · #10 02-09-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rakirksey

Instead of ordering a clone, you could always move the circuit board it into a new smaller box.

be better off rebuilding, the russian muffs are going for a fair bit now and the PCB isn't exactly the most economically sized one.

Lynwood James · #11 02-09-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

be better off rebuilding, the russian muffs are going for a fair bit now and the PCB isn't exactly the most economically sized one.

Yup. Don't touch the circuit board unless money really isn't an issue.

I guess the one question I have for you would be, have you tried a lot of other muffs and then decided that the original green Russian was the best? Muff-circuited pedals grow on Trees these days and you can't walk into the effects for-sale forum without having a lot of muffish options. How do you know that your Russian's sound can't be beat?

rratajski · #12 02-09-2010, 03:58 PM

I will confirm what Mammoth and Lynwood have said. The board itself is LARGEand warrants a large enclosure. So silly.

Order a GGG kit w/ no enclosure, then add an order on the site for a custom-drilled enclosure. Note where and how you want the enclosure drilled. I've never had a problem w/ GGG's custom drilling. I also include a crudely drawn image of how I want it drilled, so that helps too.

BTW, in the future, avoid thread titles like "Best Big Muff Clone" and the likes...be more specific in where to aim your thread.

Best of luck. Please report back.